EVA"What if he's mute?"The conversation drifted to me. I had not been paying attention for the most part of it—mainly because my thoughts were all over the place—and Laura being Laura, didn't necessarily require an audience for her to speak. She could very well speak to herself, so the fact that we were there was a plus for her."I doubt that he is." Abi said and her speaking, coupled with the 'he' in the sentence, piqued my interest enough for me to forget about my issues at the moment and listen to them talk.I really really wanted to know who that he was.Laura shrugged. "Well, I've never heard him speak.""Just because you've never heard him speak doesn't mean that he cannot speak."Laura rolled her eyes so hard, I thought they were going to fall off her head. "I get that you don't go to parties, so you wouldn't know, but Abi, he has never uttered a single word. Not one. Who knows? Maybe that's why he doesn't even let girls near him. And I totally feel him because that would be
Pushing my shoulders back, I took a step towards them. "The school principal told me that a teen magazine would love to feature me." A surprised look passed between them. "She said they're very responsible and reputable, those exact words, and that I would not have anything to worry about. She said she's also going to call you and let you know after I do."I studied their reactions closely, searching for the slightest sign that showed that this was a bad idea, but nothing about them was giving off that energy. They just looked surprised, but not that surprised."If the principal says that they're responsible, then they probably are." Mr Lawson commented. "I'll discuss with her and do my own research on them before concluding, of course."I nodded, a huge part of me already wanting to be up in my room, carrying out my plan. Although for it to be called a plan, it had to have a chance of succeeding. I didn't know if this one did."The important question is, would you be comfortable with
EVA "Wait, whose party is this?"Today was the long awaited day for the party and it wasn't until Laura's car was pulling into the driveway of a huge, beautiful house that I realised I never asked who was hosting the party. All I knew was that there was a party and I was attending."Henri." She wiggled her brows. Her shades were parked high on her head just on top of her hair-do and I couldn't help but admire it.I had long natural hair, but mine were nowhere as curly as Laura's and I knew that it had to do with her other half. She rarely wore wigs and never made braids. She usually went around with her natural hair and styled it more often than people even went to the salon.I thought it was really cool.When her words registered in my head, I blinked. "Henri?""Yes.""Why didn't you tell me?" I snapped."What difference would it have made?" She snapped back. "What does the host have to do with your going?"Pausing, I grudgingly admitted to myself that what she was saying was true.
EVA Legs and more legs. They were all I could see. couldnt they see that I was struggling? Didn't they see me get shoved into the water? Why weren't they trying to help me? I struggled to move in the water, go far enough to touch one of the legs when suddenly, hands slid under my arms and lifted me out of the water. Immediately I breached the surface, I dragged in air though my nose which caused me to cough since my lungs were filled with water. I coughed and coughed more water out of my lungs, while an unfamiliar hand patted at my back softly, probably to help with the coughing. When I could finally breathe well again, I looked around through watering eyes, taking in the face of the person that had his arms around me. It took me less than ten seconds to realise it was Dare. So he was the one that had pulled me out of the water. I was a little bit disappointed that it wasn't Axel, to be honest. It would have started a conversation between us whether we liked it or not and maybe
EVAOmar would be so proud of me.I could literally hear his voice in my head saying; peek out of you shell once in a while, Eva. It's fun I swear.Today I had. And to be honest, I didn't know if the outcome was either a blessing or a curse.Mrs Lawson's happy eyes met mine in the rearview mirror, the edges of her lips tilted up.I matched her smile."Abi and Zoe are the same age as you. I can't wait for you to meet them. "Well, that made the two of us."I can't wait to meet them either. " I replied honestly.Abi and Zoe were twin girls and the only children of the Lawsons. I hadn't met them in person yet, of course, but I was pretty sure I knew more about them tha
EVAMy heart beat wildly in my chest, thumping around with so much force I thought it was going to beat right out and land at their pretty feet.Feet that were clad in unnecessarily big fluffy slippers.Two purple, two black.I knew this, because my eyes were currently glued to them. There must be something so captivating about them, I wasn't quite sure what, but I was positive I would find that out within the next five minutes of my one-sided stare down. There was a possibility that the bodies might be just as interesting, even more so, but my eyes hadn't seemed to find the courage to make the rest of the journey.All through the car ride, I'd been itching to know what they looked like. Dying to. Now, here I was, standing in front of them, with nothing stopping me but my stupid self. I had to be pushing a new level of stupidity with my delay. 
EVABoutiques were a special kind of hell. They could fool people with their rows and rows of designer clothes, the soothing air blasting from the AC's, the excited looks on people's faces, Satan's absence and the lack of a blazing red inferno, but they didn't fool me.This was where people's self esteems came to die. And mine was in danger of drawing it's last breath."Let me show you to another section. " the sales attendant bared her teeth in something too shark-like to be a smile, clasping her hands in front of her. She'd clung to our side from the moment her eyes latched onto us, when we came in and had refused to leave, offering suggestions when she thought we needed them.One could barely blame her. One look at Mrs Lawson and the twins and you'd know they were moneyed. With Mrs Lawson looking startlingly young in blue jeans, a cashmere sweater, her
EVAIvacy High was, well, high, and nothing like what I'd expected.Nothing turned out to be what I expected these days. I might as well stop assuming.I'd expected plain colours, large, impersonal buildings, snobby students —I was yet to meet them, and classy teachers. I mean, it was a private school, also one of the most expensive and if Abi and Zoe's characters were things to go by, I'd say they went to a school that reflected them. I could hardly be blamed for coming to that conclusion. Really.Lord knew the beautifully colored, albeit overly large buildings with inspirational and motivational quotes from different prodigies, hanging on the walls on various sides, took me completely by surprise." The school assembly starts in exactly ten minutes from now, " Abi glanced at the watch on her left wrist, "And I like to be there at leas
EVA Legs and more legs. They were all I could see. couldnt they see that I was struggling? Didn't they see me get shoved into the water? Why weren't they trying to help me? I struggled to move in the water, go far enough to touch one of the legs when suddenly, hands slid under my arms and lifted me out of the water. Immediately I breached the surface, I dragged in air though my nose which caused me to cough since my lungs were filled with water. I coughed and coughed more water out of my lungs, while an unfamiliar hand patted at my back softly, probably to help with the coughing. When I could finally breathe well again, I looked around through watering eyes, taking in the face of the person that had his arms around me. It took me less than ten seconds to realise it was Dare. So he was the one that had pulled me out of the water. I was a little bit disappointed that it wasn't Axel, to be honest. It would have started a conversation between us whether we liked it or not and maybe
EVA "Wait, whose party is this?"Today was the long awaited day for the party and it wasn't until Laura's car was pulling into the driveway of a huge, beautiful house that I realised I never asked who was hosting the party. All I knew was that there was a party and I was attending."Henri." She wiggled her brows. Her shades were parked high on her head just on top of her hair-do and I couldn't help but admire it.I had long natural hair, but mine were nowhere as curly as Laura's and I knew that it had to do with her other half. She rarely wore wigs and never made braids. She usually went around with her natural hair and styled it more often than people even went to the salon.I thought it was really cool.When her words registered in my head, I blinked. "Henri?""Yes.""Why didn't you tell me?" I snapped."What difference would it have made?" She snapped back. "What does the host have to do with your going?"Pausing, I grudgingly admitted to myself that what she was saying was true.
Pushing my shoulders back, I took a step towards them. "The school principal told me that a teen magazine would love to feature me." A surprised look passed between them. "She said they're very responsible and reputable, those exact words, and that I would not have anything to worry about. She said she's also going to call you and let you know after I do."I studied their reactions closely, searching for the slightest sign that showed that this was a bad idea, but nothing about them was giving off that energy. They just looked surprised, but not that surprised."If the principal says that they're responsible, then they probably are." Mr Lawson commented. "I'll discuss with her and do my own research on them before concluding, of course."I nodded, a huge part of me already wanting to be up in my room, carrying out my plan. Although for it to be called a plan, it had to have a chance of succeeding. I didn't know if this one did."The important question is, would you be comfortable with
EVA"What if he's mute?"The conversation drifted to me. I had not been paying attention for the most part of it—mainly because my thoughts were all over the place—and Laura being Laura, didn't necessarily require an audience for her to speak. She could very well speak to herself, so the fact that we were there was a plus for her."I doubt that he is." Abi said and her speaking, coupled with the 'he' in the sentence, piqued my interest enough for me to forget about my issues at the moment and listen to them talk.I really really wanted to know who that he was.Laura shrugged. "Well, I've never heard him speak.""Just because you've never heard him speak doesn't mean that he cannot speak."Laura rolled her eyes so hard, I thought they were going to fall off her head. "I get that you don't go to parties, so you wouldn't know, but Abi, he has never uttered a single word. Not one. Who knows? Maybe that's why he doesn't even let girls near him. And I totally feel him because that would be
EVA Was he pissed? The Axel I knew would have brought up the—eh, near kiss immediately. But the Axel I knew was also walking away from me right now as if he couldn't bear another minute in my presence. Maybe he'd changed. Of course he had. I'd told him that we were strictly going to be friends, none of those uncomfortable talks about feelings—on his side, of course—, no near kisses—this, we were both to blame—and none of those close proximities either. He'd even stopped flirting with me. I wasn't sure that I liked this new version of Axel. He was... boring. When we walked out into the open and our class buildings came into view again, he turned to me sharply. If I had not been watching him, I would have walked into him. "Thank you for your time today. You were..." He trailed off, his eyes over my shoulder. "It was really helpful." Then he turned back around and walked in that leisurely stride to the car park where his car was. I blinked in rapid successions, staring at his re
EVA The sound of a phone ringing filled the air. Axel and I flied apart like our skins were on fire and our eyes jumped around like we were searching for the nearest pool of water to immerse ourselves into—which was crazy because I couldn't swim.I never got the chance to learn how. We were both desperately trying not to look at each other, while trying to catch a glimpse of each other, to see how the other person was taking it. Even though I wasn't looking directly at him, he was in my line of sight so it was easy for me to see his reaction. He was shuffling from one foot to the other. I, however, was doing everything I possibly could to not die on the spot. What the hell was my problem? It was like I became suddenly possessed when I was in the presence of him. I did things that I wouldn't usually even dream about doing—e.g the two near kisses—and even though I was still unsure whether it was a good or bad thing, I was positive that he was changing me. Somehow. The phone had s
EVA He gave his bag to me, which I dropped on the seat next to me—but not before giving him a glare, which, surprisingly, made the corners of his mouth twitch in amusement—then he gave me a stop watch. I stared at it, then at him. "I'll need you to time me as I run." He explained. "Thats actually why I needed you to come along." And here, I thought he just needed my presence, I thought sarcastically. Okay, maybe not that sarcastically. "I don't know how to use it." "I'll show you. Here." He leaned down to explain how it worked. Pressed the start button, stop, and clear. I was paying attention to what he was saying. I really was, but his masculine scent was also assaulting my senses and it was suddenly too much for me. "I understand." I said, and took watch back from him, anxious for him to leave already. He nodded and stepped back. There was a wiry fence separating the seats from the track and field, but there was also an opening to allow people pass. He walked past it and onto
EVA Today, Abi had one of those classes that took an extra hour after normal school time to conclude, which meant that we weren't going to be picked up until then. In other words, I wasn't leaving the school anytime soon. Thanks to them, I now had an extra hour to overthink what the Principal had told me to death.I still couldn't wrap my head around the fact that a magazine wanted me for a model.Me!That was the part that I was finding hard to believe.I didn't want to go and wait out there where the other students waited for their parents/drivers to come pick them up. With my face on the cover of the magazine, I suddenly felt too exposed. Like everyone was looking at me. Of course, it was all just in my head, but I couldn't shake the feeling.I couldn't get out of my own head.So I decided to go back to class, hoping that it was cleared out by now. What I didn't expect, however, was for Axel to be in class. My class. Not his.What was he even doing here?Narrowing my eyes at him, I
EVA Before I could take another step, he took the stairs two at a time and was already standing in front of me. My heart slammed against my ribcage. There was no way to run forward and if I tried to run back, he could easily stop me by gripping my arm. Not that he had ever laid his hands on me but I wouldn't put it past him. I could shout and have people within earshot come help me, but I didn't want other people to be involved. Besides, he could easily just run and then I would have to explain why I shouted when there was absolutely nothing wrong with me. You're not the same person you were before, Eva. If this was Axel, I would cock a brow and ask him to get out of my way. So why couldn't I do that now? Well, there were many reasons. One, Axel wasn't psychotic. Two, he would never threaten or hurt me. Three, he wasn't deranged. Dexter was guilty of all three things I had mentioned and I knew that if he could get away with it, he would have physically hurt me. Doesn't mat